Friday, June 25, 2004
BearReport.com: Go inside Bear-Packer rivalryGo inside Bear-Packer rivalry
By Beth Gorr
Date: Jun 25, 2004
Ever wish that you had the opportunity to "replay" some of the old Bears-Green Bay games with the players who were there? If so, pack your bags and plan to head north on September 19 for the first ever Bears-Packers pre-game breakfast event, which will be held at Brett Favre’s Steakhouse in Green Bay.
Hosted by Gale Sayers and Willie Davis and presented by the Vince Lombardi Titletown Legends, this once in a lifetime opportunity will bring together legendary players such as Mike Ditka, Mike Pyle, Stan Jones, Kevin Butler, Gary Fencik and others soon to be announced from the Bears. On the Packers side Paul Hornung, Jerry Kramer, Zeke Bratkowski, Jim Grabowski and Leroy Butler are scheduled to partake.
"All of us are really looking forward to this," Pyle said. "It’s a great chance to get together with old football friends and rivals and a fine opportunity to meet the fans. And the best part is that the proceeds will be going to various charities dedicated to area youth, education and public service."
A VIP Breakfast Package, limited to only 75 guests, will feature a reception with Bear and Packer Legends, professionally taken photo and autograph opportunities with all the Legends, preferred seating at a player’s table for the breakfast event and show, and a full breakfast including coffee, juice and Bloody Marys.
The Rivalry Breakfast Package will include a full breakfast and 2 autograph tickets chosen by the participants from several ticket combinations offered that day.
All in attendance will see the special "Inside the Bears-Packers Rivalry Show" hosted by Sayers and Davis and will be able to participate in a question and answer period with the Legends. There will also be souvenir programs, a keepsake coffee mug, and a Lombardi "Run to Win" keepsake pin included in both packages. A limited number of additional autograph passes will be offered for purchase at the event.
Full table packages with Mike Ditka, Paul Hornung, Gale Sayers, Willie Davis, and Leroy Butler are also available.
"The Packers may have beaten us on this one, but we usually beat them on the field so I guess it all comes out even in the end," Pyle said. "Seriously though, it is an honor to have the opportunity to participate in something like this. The Bears-Packers Rivalry is the one of the oldest in the National Football League. There is a wonderful history that will be interesting to explore."
Pyle mentioned that although he does keep in touch with number of former Bears and Packers, this will be the first time that so many NFL veterans will have been reunited since their playing days.
"It’s such a great chance for the fans to find out what these players are doing now, and how they view these games from the past. The focus this time will be on the earlier days of the rivalry. There will be Hall of Fame players in attendance from both teams. I think that everyone there will have a lot of questions for these Legends. It’s rare that so many will be together in one room."
Former players in the Chicago area have recently established the 5th Quarter Players Foundation that will be hosting similar events in the future.
"This is composed of NFL players who were with teams all across the country, but who now reside in Chicago and its suburbs," Pyle said. "We met recently to discuss how we can help less fortunate children and young people who live in Chicagoland. It’s our way of showing appreciation to the fans who supported us during our playing years by giving something back to the community at large in the form of scholarships or other support. We hope to have an event in Chicago similar to the breakfast scheduled in Green Bay by the fall of 2005."
Some of the former players who are currently volunteering their time to the 5th Quarter Players Foundation are: Mike Pyle, Mike Ditka, Ronnie Bull, Robin Earl, Bob Avellini, Chuck Logan and Tim Hendricks.
Space for the September 19 Green Bay "Inside the Bears-Packers Rivalry" breakfast is extremely limited with a maximum of 225 guests. For further information, visit the Vince Lombardi Titletown Legends website at www.lombardilegends.com, email at legendsgb@aol.com, or call 920-499-7238.
By Beth Gorr
Date: Jun 25, 2004
Ever wish that you had the opportunity to "replay" some of the old Bears-Green Bay games with the players who were there? If so, pack your bags and plan to head north on September 19 for the first ever Bears-Packers pre-game breakfast event, which will be held at Brett Favre’s Steakhouse in Green Bay.
Hosted by Gale Sayers and Willie Davis and presented by the Vince Lombardi Titletown Legends, this once in a lifetime opportunity will bring together legendary players such as Mike Ditka, Mike Pyle, Stan Jones, Kevin Butler, Gary Fencik and others soon to be announced from the Bears. On the Packers side Paul Hornung, Jerry Kramer, Zeke Bratkowski, Jim Grabowski and Leroy Butler are scheduled to partake.
"All of us are really looking forward to this," Pyle said. "It’s a great chance to get together with old football friends and rivals and a fine opportunity to meet the fans. And the best part is that the proceeds will be going to various charities dedicated to area youth, education and public service."
A VIP Breakfast Package, limited to only 75 guests, will feature a reception with Bear and Packer Legends, professionally taken photo and autograph opportunities with all the Legends, preferred seating at a player’s table for the breakfast event and show, and a full breakfast including coffee, juice and Bloody Marys.
The Rivalry Breakfast Package will include a full breakfast and 2 autograph tickets chosen by the participants from several ticket combinations offered that day.
All in attendance will see the special "Inside the Bears-Packers Rivalry Show" hosted by Sayers and Davis and will be able to participate in a question and answer period with the Legends. There will also be souvenir programs, a keepsake coffee mug, and a Lombardi "Run to Win" keepsake pin included in both packages. A limited number of additional autograph passes will be offered for purchase at the event.
Full table packages with Mike Ditka, Paul Hornung, Gale Sayers, Willie Davis, and Leroy Butler are also available.
"The Packers may have beaten us on this one, but we usually beat them on the field so I guess it all comes out even in the end," Pyle said. "Seriously though, it is an honor to have the opportunity to participate in something like this. The Bears-Packers Rivalry is the one of the oldest in the National Football League. There is a wonderful history that will be interesting to explore."
Pyle mentioned that although he does keep in touch with number of former Bears and Packers, this will be the first time that so many NFL veterans will have been reunited since their playing days.
"It’s such a great chance for the fans to find out what these players are doing now, and how they view these games from the past. The focus this time will be on the earlier days of the rivalry. There will be Hall of Fame players in attendance from both teams. I think that everyone there will have a lot of questions for these Legends. It’s rare that so many will be together in one room."
Former players in the Chicago area have recently established the 5th Quarter Players Foundation that will be hosting similar events in the future.
"This is composed of NFL players who were with teams all across the country, but who now reside in Chicago and its suburbs," Pyle said. "We met recently to discuss how we can help less fortunate children and young people who live in Chicagoland. It’s our way of showing appreciation to the fans who supported us during our playing years by giving something back to the community at large in the form of scholarships or other support. We hope to have an event in Chicago similar to the breakfast scheduled in Green Bay by the fall of 2005."
Some of the former players who are currently volunteering their time to the 5th Quarter Players Foundation are: Mike Pyle, Mike Ditka, Ronnie Bull, Robin Earl, Bob Avellini, Chuck Logan and Tim Hendricks.
Space for the September 19 Green Bay "Inside the Bears-Packers Rivalry" breakfast is extremely limited with a maximum of 225 guests. For further information, visit the Vince Lombardi Titletown Legends website at www.lombardilegends.com, email at legendsgb@aol.com, or call 920-499-7238.
